Northern mythology

82 SWEDISH TRADITIONS.
root of the water hemlock (cicuta virosa) formerly bore the
name of the Necke-root.
In Beowulf frequent mention occurs of the Nicor (pi. Niceras) ^ Connected
^vith the name is that of Odin, Hnikarr, in his character of a
sea-god ".
The following extract may serve as a commentary on
what is related both of the Swedish Neck and Danish Nok.
" Husby is very pleasantly situated, and its church is said
to be one of the oldest in Sweden. Here is shown St.
Siegfried^s well, with the water of which the holy man Sigfridus,
according to the tradition, baptized king Olov
Skotkonung. The well is still famous, and is said on
many occasions to be used nightly by the country people.
Fifty years ago " (the author travelled in 3.803) " many superstitions
and ceremonies were practised at wells.
Almost
every province had some that at certain periods of the
summer were visited, and into which a piece of money,
iron or any metal was cast as an offering. But this illusion
is now almost extinct. Still it is, nevertheless, worth
inquiring, ivhat power, and wki/ a power is everywhere
ascribed to metal of counteracting the influence
of witchcraft
and of evil spirits ? For no other reason than to
propitiate the Neck of the well, did people throw into it
anything metallic.
Connected with the above is the popular
belief, that, when bathing in the sea, a person should cast
into it, close by him, a fire-steel, a knife, or the like, to
prevent any monster from hurting him. The steel, or
whatever it may be, may be taken out again. Formerly
a fire-steel, or a pair of scissors, was laid on the cradle of
a child, until it was christened. Even to the present day
the custom exists of pouring melted silver
or other metal
on the spot where it is believed that a person is suffering
from the work of the evil one. With such a pouring the
injury is also poured out.'^
J
Ver. 838, 1144, 2854.
2 Edda-Sjem. 46, 91, 184. Edda-Snorra. 3, 24, 322.